Saddle fitting an akward booger!

[rendre_la_justice]

I have tried 6 saddles and counting on this pony. He has high withers. I have bought a Humphries and Swain holistic saddle with serge panels. This is the only saddle that sits nicely around his high withers and looks good from the front. It has good spinal clearance, sits nicely along his back (although the back end is kind of a rolled shape so it looks like a banana shaped tree but isn't it's the design) so there is no bridging. Only thing is from the side it kind of looks 'perched'. So it's the only one that doesn't move, doesn't sit on his withers, doesn't rock yet it doesn't look quite 'right'. But then I think as his withers are high and his shape is any saddle going to look a bit perched on him? Thoughts? Will saddlers other than Barry Swain/kay humphries look at this for me? As neither are local.

I dont know if I am over analysing how it looks. What do others think to these saddles? Serge panels are very soft. This pony is quite sensitive about what he has on he did not like his Thorowgood T4. He appears to like this.

 

[sbloom]

I'm sure some other fitters would be happy to look at it, I certianly would, but I think I'd be saying that the tree/panel combination looks way too curvy. If the saddle doesn't rock in rising trot I'll eat my hat - and if it doesn't it is only saved by possibly that...it also looks a fraction narrow (look at the binding at the front of the flap, not the curve of the panel against the horse), which is where you are getting some of that nice clearance from.

I think this horse needs a pommel that is designed to be slightly higher but on a slightly wider tree, and I'd be looking for a flattish deep spot in the seat, and a flat panel to match the flat back (a flocked panel with a deep gusset, making it more triangular). Many high wither models will have that shape tree.

 

[StormyMoments]

i would look into a high wither with large rear gusset possibly with a drop panel

look at kent and masters, albion k2 and the albion korrector

but you are looking at quite a bit of money for them

if not look at the thorogood t4 high wither and standard wither they are good for that shape too

 

[Foxhunter49]

It looks perched because it is perched!

There is a wonderful saddler in Cornwall who will, if you make a template of the pony send you a saddle to try - if you like it then you can buy it or he will send you another to try if you do not like it.

I have found him wonderfully helpful and as honest as the day is long. He will not try to sell you something you do not like.

West Country Bridle Makers - Maurice Knapper.

 

[rendre_la_justice]

Thanks for replies. Kent and masters was a no -go! I need a 15 inch so finding an albion of that model I think is as rare as rocking horse poo! I'll just have one made to measure but the problem is, I dont know who to trust! I'm nottinghamshire so any recommendations?

 

[sbloom]

You don't need made to measure - just work with a good fitter, I don't think your horse will be THAT hard to fit and might be fittable from used stock if you find someone with a large enough stock. I only carry mainly new saddles and although I can help with finding the RIGHT used one online, our higher wither saddles are rarer than our Native Pony wide ones .

 

[Albertina]

I have a Kent & Masters for my boy who has a huge wither and it sits beautifully on him. That was going to be my only suggestion as I had tried sooooo many before I got to the K&M.

They saddle in the pic really doesn't look like its fits IMHO

 

[rendre_la_justice]

Who IS a good fitter though SBloow? They all tend to contradict one another around here! Can't you just make some more high withers one please! In your lovely style of the symphony!

 

[Andalusianlover]

I have a very good friend who is a Master Saddler, she's based in Wiltshire but travel isnt a problem as she has relatives and friends up there she would prob visit. I've seen three of the saddles she has made recently and they are lovely and the customers are happy. She is also an expert on renovating sidesaddles and is almost finished renovating a very old military saddle which looks amazing. The saddles she makes are of the highest quality and she only charges £1000 (add on a bit more for travel)

She made my jumping and dressage saddles whilst working for Michela Leng saddles, now Strada.

 

[sbloom]

Who IS a good fitter though SBloow? They all tend to contradict one another around here! Can't you just make some more high withers one please! In your lovely style of the symphony!

Mike Davies and I currently cover Notts between us and I am quite sure we could make you a Symphony with a suitable tree - you MIGHT only need a deeper panel which is a standard tweak to a design and easy to do.

 

[Bosworth]

OP whereabouts are you, THat saddle is not a banana shape tree, it just has no rear gussets, if it had rear gussets it would look a completely different shape. It also looks completely new to me so not bedded in at all. So will sit high until it is bedded in. Kay and Barry will travel to fit saddles, they both go all over the place. And personally I would never put a saddle on my horse that was not either a Kay or Barry Saddle. Give them both a call and see if they can help you. They are both fantastic saddlers, unlike the majority of saddle fitters and makers out there.

 

[Tonibird83]

I too had an awkward shaped horse and managed to get an Albion Kontrol gp that was medium width and a high cut head so it fitted his shoulders but didn't sit on his withers.
He was high withered and had muscle wastage, finding a saddle for something this shape was a complete nightmare so I sympathise with you.
I would def get a saddle fitter to come out as they would at least be realistic as to whether you're going to have to have something made to measure.
My saddle's now at the local saddler to sell, awaiting the owner of another awkward shaped TB to come and buy it!!

 

[sbloom]

OP whereabouts are you, THat saddle is not a banana shape tree, it just has no rear gussets, if it had rear gussets it would look a completely different shape. It also looks completely new to me so not bedded in at all. So will sit high until it is bedded in. Kay and Barry will travel to fit saddles, they both go all over the place. And personally I would never put a saddle on my horse that was not either a Kay or Barry Saddle. Give them both a call and see if they can help you. They are both fantastic saddlers, unlike the majority of saddle fitters and makers out there.

I'd be very interested to know what you DO class as a really curvy/banana tree? A gussetted rear panel will not make this fit, and it will never bed in enough to be flat enough for that back. And replacing the panel will be around £300, even if that would work. This horse has a flat back AND high wither - the tree will need to have slightly flat rails. That tree has no flat sweet spot and therefor the rails are not flat enough from front to back, and it definitely needs a gussetted panel. Lift at the back is not acceptable, and that saddle will lift at the back.

 

[rendre_la_justice]

Sbloom I listened to you and sold this, sadly, at great loss too.

Anyway have started a new thread with current saddle, I make this saddle no 7

Please give your thoughts as I really value your opinion.